August 04, 2008

What You Need To Know About Chihuahua Grooming

The Chihuahua is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and that is not surprising at all. Not only are these dogs the tiniest of all breeds, they are the oldest as well. According to the American Kennel Club these dogs have been around from the time of the Aztecs. You will find these dogs to be very attractive growing no taller than nine inches and weighing a mere three to six pounds. They have a sweet small face with a sharp muzzle and large fox-type pointed ears. Their eyes are large and quietly intelligent. The Chihuahua coat comes in two varieties – one is short and straight and another is long and fluffy. Grooming your Chihuahua mostly involves brushing and bathing which needs to be done at regular intervals every two to three months. You will also need to pay attention to its eyes, which tend to water creating tear signs on the face, and its nails that need regular clipping Besides washing its coat, grooming your Chihuahua would involve de-matting its fur, clipping nails, checking ears and paws, wiping and inspecting eyes for infection and checking for injuries. You would do best to allot a day every week for grooming your Chihuahua and on each of those days you could concentrate on one particular aspect of grooming besides combing the fur. You would also need to have a special grooming box – something like a first aid box – with the following implements: rubber slicker, a quiet blow drier, a soft bristle brush, nail clippers, cotton balls, saline solution, grooming glove, medium toothed comb, dog shampoo and soap, betadine ointment and scrub and a pair of scissors. You will find all these items available at pet shops or a vet clinic. Ensure that you know how to use all of these implements before you try them out on the dog. Leave nail clipping to the vet if you are not comfortable with it. Sometimes it will be difficult to clip the nails of the dog even with the utmost patience and precautions when grooming your Chihuahua. But do not fret, because there are two ways to reduce the length of a dog's nails. One is to exercise and the other is by having a professional do the job for you. There are a few tricks that can help you with grooming your Chihuahua. Ensure that it has eaten recently or just before it wants to settle down for a nap. Have a few treats ready and reward it amply after the clipping session. With time it will associate the clipping session with the snacking and will allow you to clip the nails without any trouble. If you have a cemented courtyard, you could make your Chihuahua run about ten to fifteen minutes everyday with the help of a ball or a Frisbee. The running should apply enough friction on the nails to file them and you will have lovely short nails without any clipping headaches Chihuahua grooming hardly takes any time and effort when it comes to brushing and bathing. However, when it is time for nail clipping you could have a major problem on your hands. This article will give some basic Chihuahua grooming tips which can help you care for your pet better.

July 20, 2008

What To Look For When Raising A Chihuahua Pup

Puppies can be a lot of fun and the toy breeds can especially be a lot of fun. But there are things you should know and things you should be aware of when you are raising your Chihuahua pup that can help you make your life easier and the pup's life easier too. Always be aware of your pup and continually do research on ways to improve your pup's life, the things you can do to improve it's behavior and also ways help improve the interaction between yourself and your dog. Rule number one is that Chihuahuas are not good with kids, so do not get a Chihuahua if you have small children. Chihuahuas do not react well to loud noises, a lot of commotion, and the fast movement that children do on a daily basis. These kinds of things can stress a Chihuahua out and cause it to possibly resort to a biting response and constant barking that will never go away. So be smart and avoid a Chihuahua if you have kids. The Chihuahua pup looks very cute when it is protecting what it sees as it's possessions or its territory but this cute behavior can lead to serious behavioral issues when the dog gets older. So if you notice that your Chihuahua spends a lot of time growling and barking at people like it is protecting itself then you need to step in and reassure the dog that it is safe and there is no reason to be so protective. The Chihuahua is a fragile dog that you will probably always need to keep an eye on to prevent it from hurting itself. A leap from the back of a chair to the floor can potentially break a leg and they do not adapt well to being picked up either. So make sure you keep an eye on your dog and do not let it climb and avoid picking it up as well. You may also want to watch where you sit, as they also like to curl up under blankets to sleep. Expect a very frustrating and long battle when it comes to housebreaking your Chihuahua pup. The Chihuahua just does not like going outside into the elements and if it is windy, rainy, or cold out then your pup is just not going to want to go outside to do anything, much less relieve itself. So you are going to have to start the long and frustrating battle known as housebreaking and there are a lot of methods to use and you will probably try them all before you are done. A Chihuahua pup is a very cute little dog but they also have a lot of things about them that every owner needs to know. Take the time to look up the facts about your dog and also take a lot of time reading up on how to train your dog. If you got your dog from a breeder than be sure to ask them for advice as well because every little bit helps. There is helpful information in this article about raising Chihuahua puppies. If you need assistance with Chihuahua puppy care then this article may help.

July 13, 2008

How To Train Chihuahua Puppies

When searching for Chihuahua puppies for sale be sure to check with the National Kennel organizations first. Searching the Internet is another good idea when looking for Chihuahua puppies, but be sure and check out the sources very carefully. Educating yourself on Chihuahua puppies will help you understand the breed and locate a reputable breeder. When you choose a breeder make sure your Chihuahua puppy has its AKC papers and shots. He should also be wormed and have a generous health guarantee. Finally, be sure your breeder gives you a sample of dog food for your new puppy. The Chihuahua breed is the oldest and smallest breed in the United States and is very popular. There are many reputable Chihuahua puppy breeders and with a little research you should be able to find a good one close to wherever you live. Find a good vet before you buy and have your new puppy checked out right away. Chihuahua puppies are very easy to groom and should be given a regular regimen of bathing and brushing. The two varieties of Chihuahua puppies are the smooth coat and the long hair coat. The smooth coat is the easier of the two varieties of Chihuahua puppies to maintain. They only need to be bathed once a month and they only need to be brushed once a week. Because of their short hair your brushing session should consist of a very soft bristled brush. The brushing session should only last for a short period of time. The longhaired Chihuahua puppies take a bit longer to groom. They need only to be bathed once a month, but their brushing regimen should be at least twice a week. A special brush to remove tangles is recommended and a few cute bows are always appropriate for the longer haired Chihuahua puppy. Many longhaired Chihuahua puppies look like their owners. The AKC tries to govern all registered puppy breeders especially those breeding Chihuahua puppies. Because there are so many Chihuahua breeders in existence it is very difficult to watchdog over all of them, however, if you know what you are looking for and ask the breeder a lot of questions, you will soon know whether you have found a good breeder. The breeder of Chihuahua puppies should be very open about his breeding policies and provide the proper AKC papers for every puppy. The puppies should be wormed, have its shots and have a very generous health guarantee. Most of these breeders will not provide a crate, so you should invest in a good one to help make the moving transition easier on the puppy and the owner. Be sure and ask about these items before even looking at the puppies because there will be no need to spend time with this breeder if he does not provide you with these essential items for the new puppy. A grooming schedule for Chihuahua puppies is fairly easy. They only need to be bathed once a month and brushing is only necessary once or twice a week. How to choose the right Chihuahua puppy is simple when researching and consulting with the AKC.

June 29, 2008

Will Chihuahua Puppies Drive You Crazy?

Watch out! The Chihuahua puppies are coming! Are you ready? Are you sure? Any puppy is a lifetime commitment, including a Chihuahua puppy, but no puppy will be as small as a Chihuahua. Because of their tiny size and their complete lack of fear, they will get into trouble that can get them killed. The good news is that all of these dangers are preventable. Keep any toxic chemicals, cleansers, people medications or chocolate out of the reach of your new Chihuahua puppy. Get childproof locks for cabinets if you have to. If you keep plants indoors or outdoors, look them up to see if they are toxic. Just a nibble may be lethal for Chihuahua puppies. Get rid of any plant you are unsure of. Spray bitter apple or a dog chew deterrent on any electric wires that you can't move, cover or tape up onto a wall. This spray is available in any pet store. You need to call your Chihuahua puppy away from potential dangers such as chocolate, cleansers, slug bait, other dogs, laundry machines and even a fall out of a window. Keep treats on you or a special little squeaky toy to reward your Chihuahua puppy for looking at you and then coming over to you. Never hit or yell at the pup after they have obeyed and come over – even if you feel like it. This will teach them that coming to your side will get them smacked or screamed at. Would you want to go near anyone who did that to you? When Chihuahua puppies run free in the home, being stepped on by a human being can kill them. To prevent this just shuffle or scuff your feet across the floor, never picking them up. Open and close your doors really slowly to avoid a collision with the pup. Check underneath cushions before sitting down. This all becomes second nature after a couple of days. If you bought your Chihuahua puppy from a breeder, you probably noticed the slow, shuffling walk they use, never picking their feet off of the floor. This is to prevent any accidental stepping on the Chihuahua puppies. For this reason, you should never get a Chihuahua puppy if you have a young, active child. Also, load your laundry one piece of clothing at a time to be sure the puppy did not mistake the laundry basket for a bed. Chihuahua puppies are actually stronger than some other slim breeds of dogs, namely the Italian Greyhound. They are also one of the most intelligent breeds of dog and learn about house safety in a matter of weeks (as opposed to years in a human child). Teach your puppy his or her name as soon as possible. Keep any Chihuahua puppy names short, in case you have to call them away from any potential danger. The world would be a better place if the planet was taken over by Chihuahua puppies. Anyone looking for the best Chihuahua puppy names should keep the moniker smaller than the dog.

June 16, 2008

Chihuahua Puppy For Sale: Intelligent Breed

Once you have made that important and life changing decision to bring a new pet into your home, you will need to make sure that you have all of their supplies ready for their arrival. When searching for a Chihuahua puppy for sale, it is important that you ask questions to make sure that you have all of the Chihuahua puppy supplies that you need. You do not want to bring your new puppy home and be missing some vital supplies to keep your new friend happy, healthy, and safe. So now that you have all the supplies you think you will need and you are armed with questions, now it is time to think about where you are going to end up looking for a Chihuahua puppy for sale. There are many places to pick from and many directions to head in. The choice is yours but some places are more advisable then others. Make sure you do your homework for beginning the search for the perfect Chihuahua puppy for sale. Now that you are all ready to head out and start looking for that perfect Chihuahua puppy for sale, you need to consider exactly where you are going to look. There are many places that sell Chihuahua puppies but you will want to select a place that can give you a good idea about the puppy itself and what type of breeding home it came from. When looking for a seller, they must have a vast knowledge of their animals and if they don’t then it would be best to look somewhere else. Even though the convenience of a pet shop is sometimes appealing, it is important that you consider what is truly more important. If the convenience of a pet shop outweighs the benefits of a knowledgeable seller or breeder, then I guess a pet shop would work well but that does not mean that it is the right decision. Pet stores often will not be able to give you any information about the breeder whether it is for reasons of privacy or for the fact that they really don’t know anything about the breeder. If you are looking for a healthy Chihuahua puppy for sale, you may want to consider private breeders as they are often the ones who hold a lot of love for these animals along with a great deal of knowledge concerning the history and treatment of this breed. By going with a responsible dog breeder, you are more than likely to end up with a healthy puppy and will be given many tips and hints as to the proper Chihuahua puppy supplies to have on hand, as they do care deeply for their animals and they want to make sure that they end up in a safe home. Also this gives you, the owner, an opportunity to check out the Chihuahua puppy's surroundings and by doing this you will be able to see if they were brought into the world in a place that excels in areas of cleanliness and compassion. You will also be able to stay in contact with the breeder of your choice for questions or concerns that may arise with your new little friend once you have brought him or her home. And if this is your first puppy, you will have many questions. When starting your search for a Chihuahua puppy for sale, it is important to remember that not all Chihuahua puppies are the same. Ask what Chihuahua puppy supplies are really needed and you will be able to get a feel for the breeder who has the Chihuahua puppy for sale.

June 09, 2008

Finding Your Chihuahua Puppy

If you have decided that a Chihuahua puppy is in your immediate future, the next step will be to find the right puppy for you. There is a right way and a wrong way to purchase a Chihuahua puppy, and the right way will save you plenty of money and heartache in the long run. First, never run to a pet shop that has a sign saying, “Chihuahua puppies for sale”. Pet shops are basically brokers for irresponsible commercial breeders and puppy mills that are breeding dogs to make a quick buck. These dogs are rarely healthy and well socialized and will certainly not be the kind of pet that you want for your family. There are also people who will advertise themselves as Chihuahua breeders, but some are irresponsible in their breeding practices, and others are con-artists, plain and simple. Fortunately, there are some guidelines that you can learn to help you recognize a con artist or poor breeder to protect yourself from paying money for a dog that will not be healthy. Finding a breeder is the best way to purchase a Chihuahua puppy for sale, but not all who claim to be breeders really are. To find out for sure, check the registration papers for the mother of your puppy. If the person’s name is on the papers, then he is the legitimate owner of the dog. If not, you are dealing with a broker, which takes you back to the problems listed above. If you can determine that you are indeed working with the actual breeder, there are then some other red flags to watch for. First, bad breeders will not have veterinarian records for their dogs, often because they are trying to cut corners by cutting back on vet visits. Next, a breeder that does not allow you to see the place where the puppies are being cared for may not be keeping his puppies in a clean environment. Puppies that live in their own waste can be very difficult dogs to housetrain. Finally, no Chihuahua breeder should allow you to take a puppy home until he is at least ten weeks of age, due to the frailty of these small pups. Now that you know what a bad breeder looks like, it’s time to learn the characteristics of a good breeder with Chihuahua puppies for sale. First, just because a breeder has puppies available, that doesn’t mean that he is going to sell them to the highest bidder. Good breeders are not just in it for the cash, they are primarily interested in the betterment of the breed and the best care for their dogs. A good breeder will have you sign a contract that states that if at any time you are no longer able to care for the dog, you will return it to the breeder. Good breeders have nothing to hide in terms of where their dogs live, because the area is always clean and well maintained. His dogs are like a part of the family, and because of this, they are well socialized. By finding a good breeder, you are much more likely to find a healthy, attractive and friendly pet. Selecting from an entire litter of Chihuahua puppies is much easier when you are working with a reputable breeder that can walk you through the process. If you do your homework in regards to responsible breeding practices and Chihuahua puppy care you will be ready for a long and happy relationship with your new puppy.

May 27, 2008

Recognizing An Honest Chihuahua Breeder

Celebrities throughout Hollywood have made the Chihuahua one of the most popular small breed dogs in the world. Unfortunately, this has led to a rise of unscrupulous Chihuahua breeders who run terrible breeding centers known as puppy mills. These puppy mills are churning out hundreds of pups each and every year, and then turning around and selling them to pet stores across the country. Many pet store owners are unaware of the terrible conditions in which the dogs raised by one of these Chihuahua breeders are kept. The majority of pet store owners actually think that they are buying from a respectable Chihuahua breeder, never knowing that they are actually helping the puppy mills to stay in business. The truth of the matter is that a respectable Chihuahua breeder would never sell a single pup to a pet store. Preferring instead to thoroughly research anyone who requests a pup, in order to make certain that their pups are going to good homes. The puppy mills that supply pet stores around the country breed their dogs in horrible conditions. Often a Chihuahua breeder that runs one of these mills will breed the same female every single time she comes into season. This is dangerous because a Chihuahua is so small to begin with, that each pregnancy deteriorates their body quite a bit. By not allowing a season or two to pass in between litters, you wind up with very sick females – and consequently, sick puppies. Worse yet is the fact that a dishonest Chihuahua breeder will not take each litter of pups to a quality vet to receive the proper medical attention that small breed puppies need. By the time the pups reach the pet store they can be quite sick and often dying. Many an unsuspecting would-be owner has found himself or herself with a brand new puppy that costs them thousands of dollars in veterinarian bills, only to die shortly thereafter. When you make the decision to only purchase Chihuahua puppies from a respected Chihuahua breeder you can rest assured that you are doing your part to help put these puppy mills out of business. With every puppy that is purchased from a pet store, another puppy mill makes a profit and continues their cycle of cruelty to animals. Even pet shop owners who claim to only buy pets from respectable breeders need to realize that a real Chihuahua breeder would never sell a pup to a pet store. Join the battle against puppy mills by only getting your dog from a respected Chihuahua breeder. You can easily get a recommendation from any vet on his or her opinion as to breeders who treat their animals well and get them the medical attention they deserve. By refusing to purchase a Chihuahua puppy from a pet store you can save yourself both thousands of dollars in unexpected vet bills, as well as the terrible heartbreak that comes from watching a sick puppy die. Thanks to honest Chihuahua breeders who are rallying together in the fight against the recent uprising of puppy mills these small dogs are finally getting the respect they deserve. If you're looking for Chihuahua information to help you decide whether or not to buy a pup from a pet store, then this article is just what you need.

May 18, 2008

Great Information On What Chihuahua Breeders To Avoid

While anyone can put on a smiling face and tell you everything you want to hear you want to be certain that you look past the smiling face when you are talking to prospective Chihuahua breeders. You should do a lot of research before you decide to do business with any particular breeder. And any good and reputable breeder will insist that you do your research as well so that everyone is comfortable with the whole transaction. Reputable breeders have nothing to hide. The first thing you can do to weed out the shady breeders is to check and see what national breeding registry each are listed with. The gold standard is the American Kennel Club but there are other registries so find out which one your breeder is associated with so you can see what kind of breeding standards they use when doing their business. Also check to make sure they are really listed with the registry, do not take their word for it. Remember you are checking someone out so do your own work. If you do not already have a vet picked out then the best time to decide on one and then get to know that vet is when you are considering a Chihuahua breeder. Your vet is very concerned about your pets and they will not allow you to get a pet from someone they do not trust or they know is not reputable. Your vet is a fantastic resource when you are considering a Chihuahua breeder and you should make sure to seek out your vet's opinion prior to making any final decisions. You may not have thought of this but you should also probably have a talk with the local law enforcement officials about the breeders you are considering. Suffice to say that if the local law enforcement are very familiar, in a bad way, with a particular breeder then it would probably be a very good idea for you to avoid any dealings with that breeder for your good and also to protect your family from any future problems with your new pet. As important as any of the people mentioned in this article are to talk to about prospective Chihuahua breeders the one group that you need to make sure you talk to a lot is the breeders themselves. Find out what their policies and beliefs about breeding are and ask if they will be available to you after the sale is done. Find out what information they offer you when you get a dog from them and also just pay attention to see if this is someone that you would feel comfortable buying your future family member from. A good breeder is in your life for years offering advice and helping to make sure your pet stays healthy. You need to do the right thing and make sure that you are choosing the right breeder for you and your family because in the end that relationship between you and your breeder is what is most important. You can find helpful information on narrowing down prospective Chihuahua breeders in this article. You can find useful Chihuahua information in this article.

May 11, 2008

The Bad Type Of Chihuahua Breeder

So you and your family have decided that it is time to get a new pet and the pet you have decided on is a Chihuahua. Before you even start to talk to any Chihuahua breeders you will want to do some homework so you make sure that you do not get a fake breeder or a breeder that is not reputable. You want to be certain you are doing business with a reputable breeder because your dog's health depends on it. The Internet is filled with the many breeder registries that any good breeder will want to be a part of to show that they conform to healthy standards of breeding dogs. The main registry is the National Kennel Club but they are only one of many registries around. Check and see if the breeder you are considering is a member of any of the national registries before you talk to them personally. A Chihuahua breeder is so much more than just someone you buy your dog from. Breeders are professionals that you should be able to call on for advice and also for when something seems to be wrong. A good breeder will have an open line of communication with the owner for years to come to make sure the Chihuahua is healthy and happy for a very long time. A breeder that is difficult to get a hold of is not a breeder you want to do business with. A good breeder loves animals and is just as concerned with how you care for you dog as you are. A reputable breeder will send a new owner home with detailed care and feeding instructions so that the new owner knows what their dog needs and they also send home a food sample so the new owner knows what to feed their dog. If you are talking to a breeder that is not offering detailed care instructions then you are talking to the wrong breeder. Insurance companies will contact a good and reputable Chihuahua breeder and offer them free six-week pet insurance policies to give to new Chihuahua owners. The hope from the insurance company is that you will see the benefits of the insurance policy and extend it for the life of your dog. If your breeder does not offer this kind of coverage option for your new Chihuahua pup then you may want to ask them about it and wonder why they do not have it to offer. Buying a Chihuahua is something you and your family look forward when you finally make that decision to invest in a new pet. Choosing the wrong breeder can make the experience, and your new dog's life, a very bad one so take your time and ask a lot of questions. A good breeder expects you to ask questions and do your homework so by all means do what is expected of you before you invest in your dog. If you need advice on how to spot fake Chihuahua breeders then this article can help. For first time Chihuahua buyers this article contains helpful Chihuahua information.

May 04, 2008

Chihuahua Breeders And What To Ask

When it is time to start looking for a Chihuahua breeder to get your pet Chihuahua from you want to know what to ask all the prospective breeders you will talk to so you know what kind of breeder you are getting and how well they know their business and how much support they offer new owners. These things are very important so do not be afraid to ask questions as any reputable dealer is expecting a lot of questions especially from a new owner. A national breeder registry is an organization that sets breeding standards for healthy Chihuahua pups and you want your breeder to be guided by those standards. Ask your breeder what registry they are listed with and ask to see something that shows what registry they are listed with. A good breeder will be more than happy to show you their listing information and take a great deal of pride in it. When you leave the Chihuahua breeder's property with your new pup the relationship should not end there. The relationship with a good breeder goes on well into the life of your new Chihuahua and the breeder should always be available for consultation on any issues that concern you. If the breeder you are talking to seems less than helpful or less than interested in being helpful then it is probably a good idea to find a new breeder to talk to. When you get ready to buy a new Chihuahua you are going to need to have a vet ready to take your dog to. Once you establish a relationship with a vet then have a discussion with your vet about the breeders in your area and find out which ones they recommend you deal with. Your vet is just as interested in the good health of your pet as you are so they will not steer you wrong. As painful as it may be, any good Chihuahua breeder will have a policy where they will take back the pet at any stage of its life if the owner can no longer care for it, to avoid having the dog be abandoned. The breeder will not offer a cash refund but they will offer the dog a second chance at a new owner and offer the old owner a chance to do the right thing and not leave their little pet abandoned to die. Deciding on a Chihuahua breeder is important so be ready to ask a lot of questions before you settle on one. A good breeder will be expecting a lot of questions so don't think you are doing anything new and many reputable breeders will insist that you ask as many questions as you can think of because to a good breeder a solid relationship with the owner is just as important as any other part of the dog's life. If you are looking for what to ask Chihuahua breeders then you need to read this article. This article contains important and helpful Chihuahua information.